OBJECTIVETo evaluate the technical advantages of 3D laparoscopic and 2D laparoscopic surgery for gastrointestinal tumors.

METHODSClinical data of gastrointestinal cancer patients undergoing 3D laparoscopic or 2D laparoscopic surgery from January 2015 to January 2017 in our department were retrospectively analyzed These patients included 93 gastric cancer cases undergoing laparoscopic radical resection (total gastrectomy, 48 cases in 3D group, 45 cases in 2D group), 45 rectal cancer cases undergoing radical resection combined with lateral lymph node dissection (27 cases in 3D group, 18 cases in 2D group) and 76 right colon cancer cases undergoing radical resection (37 cases in 3D group, 39 cases in 2D group). The enrolled criteria of cases were 18-80 years old and diagnosed as advanced gastric or colorectal cancer by pathological examination. Patients with preoperative distant metastasis, severe heart or lung diseases who were not suitable for laparoscopic surgery, combined organ resection and conversion to open surgery were excluded. The choice of surgical procedure was determined by the discussion between patients and surgeon. Operations were performed by the same surgical team. Total operation time, complex operation time (deep lymph node dissection time, endoscopic intestinal anastomosis time), number of harvested lymph node, number of times in wrong grasp (accurate grasp for the same site needs to position for two times or more) and intraoperative bleeding were compared between 3D group and 2D group.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in baseline data between 3D group and 2D group. All the patients completed laparoscopic radical operation successfully without conversion to open surgery. In patients with gastric cancer, compared with 2D group, the total operation time was shorter [(185±25) min vs. (190±27) min, P<0.05]; dissection time of No.10 and 11d lymph node [(40±8) min vs. (55±12)min, P<0.05], and No.7, 8, 9 and 12 lymph node [(30±6) min vs. (41±9) min, P<0.05] was shorter; the number of times in wrong grasp (5±2 vs. 11±2, P<0.05) was less in 3D group. In patients with rectal cancer, compared with group 2D, 3D group had shorter time of lateral lymph node dissection [(27±6) min vs. (35±9) min, P<0.05] and laparoscopic anastomosis [(45±7) min vs. (58±11) min, P<0.05]; less number of times in wrong grasp (4±2 vs. 13±2, P<0.05]. In patients with right colon cancer, 3D group had shorter laparoscopic anastomosis time [(38±7) min vs. (44±5) min, P<0.05] and less number of times in wrong grasp (5±1 vs. 13±3, P<0.05] as compared to 2D group.

CONCLUSION3D laparoscopic surgery for gastrointestinal tumors, compared with 2D laparoscopic technology has significant advantages, which can improve the spatial location and depth of operation, decrease the difficulty of fine operation, and shorten the operation time.